Road To Redemption
Road To Redemption
Eddie Mansfield - Leaving The Past Behind
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Nineteen years sober doesn’t start with a perfect life. It starts with one turning point and the courage to stop running. John and Valerie sit down with Eddie Mansfield, a longtime friend of the show, to talk about leaving the past behind after decades of addiction, DUIs, and the heavy cost that substance abuse can bring to a family. Eddie shares how his lowest moments became the place where real change finally took root, and why lasting addiction recovery is about more than quitting drugs or alcohol.
We get honest about what helped most: surrender, daily spiritual discipline, and the kind of accountability that begins with telling one safe person the truth. Eddie also speaks directly to parents who feel helpless watching a child in active addiction, describing the power of a praying mother and father, the role of tough love, and why hope is not naïve when it’s anchored in action. If you’ve been searching for Christian recovery, faith-based rehab, sobriety support, or how to help a loved one with addiction, you’ll hear practical encouragement that doesn’t sugarcoat the struggle.
Eddie then updates us on Path of Grace, the women’s recovery program transforming lives across the Florida panhandle, including major expansion plans, regional facilities, thrift stores that support the mission, and transitional homes that reunite mothers with their children in a protected environment. If you’re struggling in secret or you think it’s too late, this conversation is your reminder to take the next step. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review to help more people find Road to Redemption.
For more info on Path of Grace Recovery - https://www.pathofgrace.net/
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Welcome Back And Guest Intro
SPEAKER_00Well, welcome back to Road to Redemption. I'm John Martin, your host. I'm here with Valerie, our co-host. Valerie Peterson, how are you?
SPEAKER_02I am good. I'm glad to be here this morning.
SPEAKER_00And we've got our good friend Eddie Mansfield. Eddie, how are you?
SPEAKER_01I'm doing great, and I'm grateful to be here.
SPEAKER_00Thank you for having me. Yeah, well, welcome back. We've been blessed to have you on a few times since we've done the show, and um it's it's always good to have you back. Well, I appreciate that. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02And I think of uh one time we had not only you, but Kayla, your lovely wife, with us.
SPEAKER_01That's right.
SPEAKER_02She's talking about marriage. Yeah, so cool.
SPEAKER_01I'm grateful for her and the kids and the new life that I have with her. It's wonderful.
Eddie’s Addiction Story And Sobriety
SPEAKER_02You know, I when we were talking yesterday, Eddie, I'll I'll never forget how you said, Val, I've left my past behind. Can you talk about that to our listeners?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I can I would love to. I hopefully it'll help someone um that needs to hear it. Um I'm originally from Owensboro, Kentucky, born and raised, and and I I had a wonderful family. There was no problems at all there. I um about the age of 14 or 15 is where I got introduced to to drinking um just beer at the beginning, and and uh it sort of went from there within a few months to marijuana. And um I think that at that point in my life it just slowly shifted up until I was about 16 and and my addiction really kind of kicked in from there at an early age, unfortunately. And um I um from the age of 16 to uh in my mid-30s, so about 20 years of time, I I was just in and out of of trouble and with the law and having DUIs and and different other situations with drugs, and um, and my life was just uh, you know, unfortunately for my family, um, it was very difficult for them. My my parents and my brother, um, you know, they were great and they just, you know, prayed, prayed all the time trying to help me get back to to normal. But um, anyways.
SPEAKER_02How many years has it been that you've been clean and sober?
SPEAKER_01I got I I made it to 19 years on December 24th this uh this last year, so just slightly over 19 now.
Healing Inside Out Through Faith
SPEAKER_02You know, uh Addie, I look at the verse in Philippians 1, 6. He's the one that will continue, and can I add another continue to do a good work in us until the day we meet him face to face? To me, you are an example of allowing him to do a good work in us. We've worked together many years. Can you talk about how have you positioned yourself to allow him to heal you from the inside out?
SPEAKER_01Well, I think in the early stages of my recovery and my early stages with my walk with the Lord, it it all started like in 2006. And um gradually it seems that every year that I've been following the Lord, I've I've wanted to elevate my walk with him and my and just even just nurture what God started because I've realized a long time ago I realized this, but I've realized that, you know, he put me back on the right path. And he's given me like not just a second chance, but many. And uh, and I just, you know, for one, I love I love the Lord and I love the the things that he's done in my life, and I want to try to give back as much as I can and help people like I was, you know. So I wanna that's my pretty much my I feel like it's what God wants me to do. It's my call that his call for me was to help people.
SPEAKER_02You know, as I'm listening to you, I'm thinking so often, and you're an example of it, our purpose in life is birthed out of pain.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And look at you, you've uh uh allowed God to take your pain and make it not only your purpose, but your platform. And you know, I think of all the ladies at Path of Grace right now, and so many of them have a stirring to minister in some capacity to those that struggle with addiction. It just is amaz I hope our listeners think on that. Your pain can become a purpose or a platform. Anything you want to say on that?
SPEAKER_01Well, I I do believe that that is so true. I, you know, God was the one who rescued me, and he's rescuing rescuing ladies and at the path of grace every day, and and I'm watching that play out for them and how that their families are being restored and their their uh lives are being restored, they're becoming um, you know, great people, and and they go out in the community after they graduate, Path of Grace, and they spread the word of God, and they get great jobs, and their life just comes together. And um the good thing is, is you know, um that kind of lifestyle when a family sees that it's it's uh contagious. And so, like even where brothers and sisters or mothers or fathers have addictions and they see their child or their brother or sis or their sister getting help at Path of Grace, you know, it it's we we've seen time and time before or again that uh these you know others are getting sober and clean through Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that is so true. It's like a domino effect. They start, they start it it's kind of like sometimes family and people will will maybe not open a Bible, but they are a living Bible by just walking it out, right? And people tend to be like a domino effect and gravitate towards it.
Praying Parents And Tough Love
SPEAKER_01It's towards the Lord. I know it's it's really um, you know, I'm I'm so glad that that the Lord did what He's done for me. And it's great. I really it was a feeling that I had never had before when I went from addiction and really the the lowest point of my life, and then even in jail, like when I first found the Lord in a real way, it was in jail, and from that point forward, it just propelled me into a joy that I've had never experienced before, and and it just continues to get stronger every year.
SPEAKER_02Would you be willing to talk about the power of a praying parent?
SPEAKER_01Oh wow. Well, when I was in addiction, I do remember like being drunk or high, and I would come home and I would see my mom. Um, she would she would always be in her bedroom or or even sometimes it was in the living room, but I would catch her on her knees a lot and and weeping and praying for me. And um, you know, it it's it's something that I'll never forget. And uh she used to go into my um bedroom, and sometimes I would wake up while I would be hit with a little water and it'd be holy water, or she would put a cross under my bed, and she was just, you know, doing everything, telling everyone, pray for my son. We've gotta help, God's gotta save him. And um, you know, I remember those days, and and I do, I believe that the Lord heard her prayers, and um, and that it's probably the reason why I'm here today. And it was my my mother praying like crazy.
SPEAKER_02You know, I want to ask, there's power in a praying father. You know, I look at all of you here, I'm like, you guys, I know, pray for your children. It's it's you know, I love Stormy O'Martin's book, The Power of the Praying Parent. It is, it is like to me, when my kids were growing up, I read that book. It was like second to the Bible. I held on to it. There's such power in our prayers. What would you say to the parent today that's listening that their child is an active addiction, Eddie?
SPEAKER_01I would say keep praying and do everything you can do to push them in the right direction. I know it's difficult, and my parents they went through a whole lot with me, but they really never gave up. They never gave up hope. They kept praying. They they did some things to me that that I guess I would have done too. Looking back at the time, I thought, wow, but you know, they they they pushed and they pushed and they did what they had to do. They had there was tough love when there needed to be tough love. And um, anyways, I'm grateful for them. And you know, we we have the best relationship now. It's it's just amazing.
SPEAKER_02So you're you know, you your family, you are an example. I'll restore and Joel to the years, the locusts is eaten. What an example. And you're giving other people, I hope, today, hope that that can happen for them. Just, you know, the hardest part is not giving up, right?
SPEAKER_01Absolutely in prayer. Absolutely. Yes, I've I'm praying for my children every day, for my wife and I, for the ladies of Path of Grace. I eat I was even praying for you and John today as we came here. I I went just went down a list and was praying for so many people, and you know, I asked the Lord every day to if I've missed somebody, please pick it up because you know so true.
Secret Addiction And Accountability
SPEAKER_02There's such power in it. The fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous person brings forth much. We're righteous because of what he did on the cross for us. If people out listening today can get that, you know, you don't have to be perfect, right, John? We don't have to be perfect, but we are forgiven. And I just I'm I'm believing people are listening today, and they are gaining hope and faith in their given situation. What would you say to the person right now that may have a secret addiction, may not have told anyone that they're struggling with an addiction? What would you say to them?
SPEAKER_01I would say it's never too late, and I would I would really encourage you to give it up and surrender because the a new life in recovery and a new life with Jesus is gonna be so much better. You're gonna feel better, you're gonna have more joy, peace. Um, even your body will come back if you're hurting or you're in pain, or you know, for me the the addiction struggle was like I remember like being in a bad way physically and mentally, and and that can that can go because God will restore what the locusts have eaten, and he will restore your body, your mind, and your soul. He will restore your heart, he'll restore your joy. I mean, so I would say give it up and and surrender and let God have a way with you, and you'll you'll never be, you know, unhappy that you did. You'll be grateful that you did.
SPEAKER_02You know, we always talk about the power of accountability and telling one person, being honest with one person. Can you say anything to that?
SPEAKER_01I do think that whenever if you have a hidden addiction, even if it's alcohol or or pills or whatever it is, find that one person that will that will love you through that. And and it is not, don't be ashamed because there's nothing to be ashamed about. Addiction hits every family, probably in this nation. It's some somewhere along the line. Someone's and and it is um it is once you get started, it's hard to stop. So you you need the help. And then um, and make a phone call. You can call us at Path of Grace. You know, we help only females, but if a male calls, we direct them to the right person or to the right facility. So we're we're there to help you. If if if you have an addiction of alcohol or drugs, feel free to call Path of Grace's program line and we will do our best to guide you to the right place.
SPEAKER_02What is a website again? What go how they can look it up?
SPEAKER_01It's uh pathofgrace.net. Awesome.
How Path Of Grace Can Help
SPEAKER_02You know, I we do want to talk about the exciting things that are happening at Path of Grace, the expansion. It's just amazing, you know, to look at what's happening. Can you talk about the multi-purpose building that is being built right now?
Expansion Plans And New Facilities
SPEAKER_01I will. I'd love to. So right now, Path of Grace has 56 beds, 56 women in our program. We are on, let's see, on March 17th, so just three weeks away, we will be pouring um a foundation in Santa Rosa Beach for our new facility. It's a 28,000 square foot facility where we'll have 28 beds that will have house two beds per room. So we're gonna, Path of Grace is greatly gonna grow in the next uh year to 14 months. And um, so we're so excited about it because it's it's the future of our program, and we're so grateful for all the givers and the people have have that have made this dream become a reality and help more people get you know saved from addiction and and also have their lives transformed by you know by the by the spirit. So we're excited.
SPEAKER_02So exciting. But a lot of people, I believe, on the panhandle do not know about the site in Vernon and the store over in Panama City. Can you talk about that?
SPEAKER_01There is we have a um a program that Path of Grace runs in uh Vernon that's really on the bar Bonafay Vernon line, and it is a 22-bed facility. Um we have uh that program is is doing great, it's thriving. It helps a lot of people from Washington County, Holmes County, and Jackson County, and even from Bay County, but um, and then we have a uh a pro a Path of Grace thrift store over in Panama City that's um it's been around about two years, I believe. It's about the same size as our um thrift store here in Merrimar Beach. So exciting.
SPEAKER_02How about telling our listeners about the transitional homes? And you said there's more to be built. That's exciting.
SPEAKER_01There is. We have eight transitional homes right now in Santa Rosa Beach, and we are about to embark on building four more. So um it's it's a great thing because those those tiny homes they restore a lot of um mothers and children. So it's it after a person graduates, Path of Grace, after they've stayed in our program for two years, if they have kids and they and they want to go to the transitional home and be reunited with their children, they can do that for an additional two years. So it's it's such a blessing because there's little kids out there right now. I think we got like six, maybe six or seven children out there now, and um it's a beautiful thing to see them and their mothers like live in a safe, protected environment that is um, you know, still part of Path of Grace where they have a little bit of a protection there.
SPEAKER_02That's it. I'm thinking they have a covering and and you know they flow from you know the two-year program to more independence, and it's amazing the job opportunities that open for them. It's just it's awesome. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Eddie, what what about um anybody out there that's been struggling with addictions that just kind of feels like it's too late for them, maybe they feel too old or they've they've been through many rehabs or programs and their families just kind of given up and they're just kind of feel like probably like they're they're no worth anymore. You know, they're just gonna be like this forever. What do you say to anybody like that?
SPEAKER_01Well, I would say that you make the phone call because we have ladies that's came through Path of Grace that are over 70 years old. And um, and you know, I've seen ladies even in their 80s before go through treatment and and come out just amazing. So I I definitely don't think there's um a too old uh I think that it's there's always um an opportunity to turn your life around and to um to go from um where you are to a way better place. So take the step.
SPEAKER_02So true. Don't don't do this life alone, and especially if there is an addiction that someone's dealing with that's listening today, take the step, make a call, reach out. Um, yeah, it's never too I think of the ladies that we recently interviewed that started like 58 to you know when they started at Path of Grace. It's never too late.
SPEAKER_01No, never too late.
SPEAKER_00Amen. Amen. Wow, it's been great. Eddie, is there anything else that you wanted to share before we go?
Transitional Homes And Family Restoration
SPEAKER_01I'm just grateful for this this area and this community. I would like to thank like all of our supporters at Path of Grace, the people who give and and bless the program, and um even those who you know give of the furniture for our thrift stores. That that's how we operate. And um, we're just grateful for everything, and we're grateful for for destiny and um the other churches in this community that that bless us in so many ways. Um thank you.
SPEAKER_00Well, we just want to take a second before we go, just to pray. Um Heavenly Father, Lord, we just we love you so much, and we just want to lift up uh right now anyone that's listening, uh, that's either struggling with addictions themselves, or maybe if it's even a family member, Lord, we just pray that you speak to them right now, you give them a future hope, you you guide them to talk to the right person or call the right uh place or just to take that step, just to encourage them to let them know you're gonna bring them through. You're gonna be there holding their hand the whole way. And we just lift up this person and we just believe you're just speaking to them right now and just covering them with hope and love and um just your blessings from above in Jesus' name. Amen.